Ivan Dixon Movies
Forceful African American leading man Ivan Dixon first commanded notice from theatergoers for his performance in the 1957 Broadway play The Cave Dwellers. He entered films as Sidney Poiter's double and stand-in with Something of Value (1957) and The Defiant Ones (1958), ultimately sharing scenes with Poitier in Porgy and Bess (1959) and Raisin in the Sun (1961). In 1964's Nothing But a Man, Dixon starred as Duff Anderson, an irresponsible Alabama railroad worker whose late-blooming maturity forms the nucleus of the film. Dixon's TV work includes the role of Kinchloe on the POW sitcom Hogan's Heroes and his Emmy-nominated starring role on the 1967 dramatic special The Private War of Olly Winter. In his later years, Ivan Dixon remained active as a director and a performer: he helmed the theatrical features Trouble Man (1972) and The Spook Who Sat By the Door (1992), such TV movies as Love is Not Enough and Percy and Thunder, and several episodes of the TV adventure series Hawaiian Heat (1984). Dixon died at age 76 in March 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi- 1993
An ex-championship boxer (James Earl Jones) sees a chance at recapturing a taste of his former glory after discovering that Thunder (Courtney B. Vance), one of the amateurs he trains, has real potential. Unfortunately, Thunder has entangled himself with crooked, gang-connected manager Ralph Tate (Billy Dee Williams), and he is not to let the young fighter go without a fight. This drama was made for cable and was aired as part of Steven Spielberg's "Screenworks" project. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, (more)
- 1986
When the beautiful Makua (Marlene Sai) witnesses a murder, Magnum (Tom Selleck) does his best to protect her from the killers. But his best may be none too good when he is knocked unconscious and nearly drowned. Awakening in a semi-amnesiac estate, Magnum discovers that he is on the "forbidden" island of Kapu--and that he is the prisoner of the island's highly superstitious natives. Prolific cartoon voiceover actress Jeannie Elias appears as a cousin of Magnum's friend Rick (Larry Manetti). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) is once more dragged out of retirement to defend a murder suspect. This time the defendant is an obnoxious actor (Joe Penny) who was seen by an audience of millions in the act of shooting a vitriolic TV talk show host (Allan Thicke). The actor claims the shooting was a prearranged publicity stunt, and that his gun was filled with blanks. Why, then, was the host stone cold dead when the cops arrived? Production sidelight: Allan Thicke, the "murdered" talk host in this made for TV movie, was in 1983 the real host of a failed talk show--a show produced by Fred Silverman, who also happened to be the producer of Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star.. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, (more)
- 1985
Magnum (Tom Selleck) and T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) are reunited with their high school classmate Goldie Morris (Lee Purcell), who is still the same zany, impulsive political activist she'd been back in the good old days when she was Magnum's tutor. Goldie wants the detective to help her locate a kidnapped dolphin, which has been outfitted with explosives. At the same time, Magnum is kept busy protecting a visiting dignitary, third-world despot President Kole (Brock Peters). Care to place bets over how quickly Magnum discerns a link between Goldie, the dolphin and the President. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
To publicize his latest novel, Robin Masters stages a million-dollar treasure hunt, with the clues adroitly hidden with the pages of his book. Unfortunately, one of the contestants doesn't see the need to play fair, and before the day is over Magnum (Tom Selleck) and the other treasure-hunters (among them several of the series' regulars) are being held at gunpoint on the edge of a steep cliff. In fact, the episode begins with this perilous situation, then works itself backward in the form of tantalizing flashbacks. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
While teaching a college investigation class, Magnum (Tom Selleck) tries to stem the alarming dropout rate by agreeing to take a case from one of his students on a pro-bono basis. At first, it appears that all Magnum has to do is locate the student's missing fiancee--but as the plot thickens, our hero becomes enmeshed in an entirely different mystery(or is it?) Guest star Tom Shadyac is better known for his latter-day accomplishments as a writer, director and producer on such Jim Carrey projects as Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is simultaneously solicited by Higgins (John Hillerman) and Robin Masters (still unseen, but voiced by Orson Welles) to help them with a pair of delicate and potentially damaging cases. Higgins is being blackmailed for helping a woman with an illegitimate son, while one of Robin's friends has been implicated in an embezzlement scheme. Unable to handle both cases at once and do justice to both, Magnum reluctantly returns to fellow private eye Luther Gillis for help. A cute inside reference to Citizen Kane is heard in honor of what turned out to be Orson Welles' final "appearance" on Magnum P.I.. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
When Higgins (John Hillerman) is stunned into semi-consciousness by an errant croquet ball, Magnum (Tom Selleck) must take over supervision of a "Great Gatsby" costume ball held at the Masters Estate. In the course of the evening, some valuable jewels are stolen, and the chief suspect is none other than Higgins--who, still in a daze, imagines himself to be that eminent Shakespearean actor "Sir Fearing Pangborn." In order to solve the case and clear Higgins, Magnum must rely on his knowledge of Agatha Christie mysteries, as gleaned from a recent movie marathon on TV. Part of the fun in this episode is watching the series regulars cavorting in their celebrity costumes, with Magnum dressed Dashiel Hammett, Rick (Larry Manetti) made up as Charlie Chaplin, and T.C. (Roger E. Mosely posing as Paul Robeson in the role of "The Emperor Jones"! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Ever on the lookout for a quick buck, T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) agrees to deliver a mysterious briefcase to Oahu. En route, T.C.'s chopper plunges into the ocean, and he ends up in the hospital in a comatose state. Flying in the face of convential wisdom, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is certain that the crash was no accident, and he is determined to bring in the men responsible for T.C.'s plight. Joining Magnum in this mission is T.C.'s visiting brother Gerald (Richard Lawson)--who turns out to be pursuing an agenda of his own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
In this sequel to the second-season episode "Jororo Kill", Danny Lin (Wesley Ogata), the young crown prince of the Jororo Island, has come to Hawaii to play in the Little League International Goodwill Tournament. Going undercover to protect Danny from an assassination plot, Magnum (Tom Selleck) finds his efforts thwarted by the youngster's fondness for sneaking away from his bodyguards to have a little fun on his own. John Saxon is seen as security chief Ed Russler, a role played in "Jororo Kill" by Burr DeBenning. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
The A-Team has a surprisingly easy time rescuing Jennifer Teasdale (Lori Lethin), the daughter of a millionaire businessman, from a terrorist group calling themselves the GLA. The hard part comes in when Jennifer pulls a gun on the Team, demanding that they go back to the GLA's hideout to rescue her boyfriend Marcus (Kevin Major Howard)--who happens to be one of the terrorists. To add to the Team's headaches, Jennifer's father is both impatient and ungrateful, the ransom money is mislaid, and the Good Guys must race against time to prevent the Bad Guys from blowing up a dam. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Owing his life to washed-up pugilist Leon Platt (Denny Miller), T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) enters a bare-knuckle boxing match, intending to use the prize money to save Leon and his daughter Ima (a pre-Beverly Hills 90210 Shannen Doherty) from being tossed into the street. Figuring that T.C. hasn't got a chance, Higgins summons aid from Magnum--who happens to be several thousand miles away on assignment in his home town of Detroit. Even so, Magnum is able to save the day with the eleventh-hour assistance of two celebrity benefactors. And wait until you see what sweet little Ima Platt does to Higgins' prize dobermans Zeus and Apollo! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Magnum (Tom Selleck) and T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) sign on to coach a junior basketball team, whose star player is a 13-year-old orphan girl named Willie (Dana Hill). A likeable kid with an ingratiating personality, Willie soon charms her way into the confidence of her two coaches, and ends up being invited to stay at Robin's Nest. Little do Magnum and T.C. realize that they have been duped into participating in a slick bunco job masterminded by Willie's crooked foster parents Bob (William Schallert) and Vera (Jo Pruden). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
The wealthy MacKenzie family controls a vast business concern which is being systematically robbed by "person or persons unkown." In order to root out the culprit, the company's CEO hires Magnum (Tom Selleck) to work undercover. This strategy obliges the matrimony-phobic Magnum to go through with a sham marriage to the CEO's niece, Marsha MacKenzie (Katherine Cannon--who turns out to have some very unorthodox views about wedded life in general and husbands in particular! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1982
Through some freakish glitch in the time-space continuum, Magnum (Tom Selleck) awakens in the year 1936. Despite this bizarre displacement, he's still a private eye, and he's still very much for hire. In fact, his latest client is Brenda McCutchen (Anne Lockhart), whose labor-leader father has been framed for the murder of an evil industrialist. Playing the "30s" angle to the hilt, the episode is stylishly written and directed in the manner of an old Warner Bros. detective film, and the familiar Magnum PI characters conform to Depression-era sensibilities: Magnum speaks fluent "Dashiel Hammett", Higgins (John Hillerman) is a Noel Coward-ish bon vivant, and so on. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
No sooner has Jim (James Garner) arrived in Newark than he is robbed of his watch, wallet, luggage, and return plane ticket. The culprits are a couple of minor-league crooks who hope to break into the Big Time through the auspices of Jim's friend, reformed mobster Beppy Conigliaro (Simon Oakland). Female impersonator Jim Bailey appears as himself in this sequel to the 5th season episode "he Jersey Bounce", with Greg Antonacci and Gene Davis making return appearances as Eugene Conigliaro and Mickey Long. Both this episode and its predecessor were written by David Chase, who later parlayed his fascination with New Jersey mobsters into the groundbreaking cable-TV series The Sopranos. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
Left without a car or a bankroll in Las Vegas, Jim accepts a ride back to LA with a casual acquaitance named Perankus (Sully Boyar). It turns out that Jim's "friend" is not only driving a stolen car, but he is transporting illegal weapons. Hauled into jail when the Feds show up, Jim is outraged that Petrankus is let off scot-free. To find out what is going on, our hero turns to an imperious senior secretary named Mrs. Bateman (Marge Redmond), who in turn is searching for one of her employees (Antoine Becker)--the same girl who took down Jim's statement when he was being grilled by the Feds. And incidentally, the "cigar" of the title does indeed explode...and it's no cigar. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
After calling her ex-boyfriend Jim (James Garner) for help, former model Carol is found dead. According the the police, Carol committed suicide, but another model, Alta Hatch (Erin Grey) suspects that the girl was murdered--and that the killer is the same person who bumped off yet another model. In hopes of finding a connection between the two deaths, Jim joins Alta in her investigation of the high-fashion industry, conducted on behalf of flamboyant celebrity designer Masters (Rene Auberjonois), who is acting rather suspiciously himself. In the process of uncovering the truth, Jim is--as usual--subjected to a surfeit of physical abuse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
Made for television, Love is Not Enough stars Bernie Casey as Mike Harris, the widowed father of five children, ages ranging from 5 to 18. Deducing that a large African-American family has a slim chance of financial survival in Detroit, where he has just been laid of his assembly-line job, Harris moves his brood to Los Angeles in search of The Good Life. As the title suggest, "love" is not enough to sustain the Harris family: The operative word is "Responsibility," and everyone is given his or her own family responsibilities by way of a majority-rule vote. Enough loose plot threads are left untied to allow Love is Not Enough to sequel into a weekly series titled Harris and Company. Unfortunately, the series came and went so quickly in early 1979 that it isn't even listed in some reference works. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
Jim heads to Rosemont College to investigate the disappearance of student Paul Douglas, the son of an old friend. At the same time, two middle-eastern types draw a bead on Jim and begin questioning him about the whereabouts of an Iranian prince. The key to the mystery lies somewhere within the confines of the Chi Rho Zeta frat house, which is for reasons unknown being zealously guarded by flinty-eyed campus security chief Max Gilmore (Kenneth Tobey). Also playing a major role in the intrigue is journalism teacher Leslie Callahan (Frances Lee McCain), who pays the price for loving neither wisely nor well. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
After being kidnapped and harrassed by the members of an Arab family, Jim (James Garner) tries to find out why his captors were so interested in his current client Sean Innes (Richard Romanus), who'd hired him to locate a woman named Khedra Azziz (Maria Grimm). It soon becomes clear that both Sean and Khedra are connected with crooked real-estate agent Cy Margulies (Robert Alda), who specializes in framing adulterous situations so that he can purchase the houses of wealthy divorced couples at rock-bottom prices. Jim must not only stop Margulies in his tracks, but also save Khedra from being murdered by her own family. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
While studying for his Lieutenant's exam, Dennis Becker (Joe Santos) is assigned to investigate the murder of the wife of Deputy Police Chief Towne (Byron Morrow). Knowing all too well that Dennis will never get his promotion--and more likely will face demotion--if anything goes wrong with his investigation, Jim (James Garner) surreptitiously tags along to provide assistance. But Jim's efforts may be all for naught when Dennis uncovers some embarrassing truths about the late Mrs. Towne's dalliances with various paroled convicts. A pre-stardom Ed Harris appears in a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Not long after Jim (James Garner) hides his .38 in a cookie jar, he is charged with murder when the weapon is used in a gas station holdup. Can the pilfering of the pistol have anything to do with Viola Wenke (Nora Marlowe), the new cleaning lady that Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) talked Jim into hiring? Perhaps--but first the detective must figure out the connection between the murder of a gas station attendant and a radical paramilitary group headed by one Lee Ronstadt (Adrienne Marden). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Four small-town businessmen hire Jim (James Garner) to help them purchase a fire engine--or at least that's their story. Sizing up the detective and jumping to the conclusion that he will do anything for $20,000, the men instruct Jim to murder a young actress (Priscilla Barnes) who threatens to reveal that they've been defrauding the IRS. Of course, they're wrong--but Jim is equally wrong when he assumes that the police will believe him when he tries to inform on the foursome. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson play Franklin W. Dixon's teenage sleuths Joe and Frank Hardy in this 48-minute spine tingler, originally titled "Mystery of the Witches' Hollow." Things start hopping when the uncle of Joe and Frank's classmate Calley (Lisa Eilbacher) disappears. The only clues to Uncle's whereabouts are the mysterious drawings made by a young mute boy (Gary Springer). Could an ancient witches' curse be at the bottom of things? "Mystery of the Witches' Hollow" was first telecast February 13, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.